Betting On Games In Vegas
[toc]The NFL is heading to the only place where sports betting is legal in the US: Nevada. The NFL has always been opposed to sports betting, so that’s a big deal.
- Above each matchup and rotation is the Time of the game, which is subject to change. All game times are Eastern Standard Time. One of the best features on the NBA Vegas Odds is the Open Line. This numbers consists of the first betting line received from one of our Las Vegas or Global Sportsbooks. The opening line varies depending.
- Betting on auto racing has exploded in popularity in Vegas in recent years, and its appeal continues to grow. The structure of betting on auto racing is similar to that of golf. The most basic wager involves picking the winner of a race.
- Hockey betting in the United States is far from the most popular sport in the land, but ever since the gambling capital of the country – Las Vegas – got a team in, the Golden Knights, in 2017, interest in hockey betting markets has picked up.
- Legal Sports Betting in Vegas There are numerous states in the US where bettors can enjoy the tables and slots in a legal establishment. Nevada is the original state for sports betting, as it was legalized in 1949. Therefore, las vegas betting has consolidated itself as.
But for now, it appears the league’s stance on the future of legal sports betting remains unchanged despite the juxtaposition of having a team in a jurisdiction with legal wagering. And we still don’t know how the NFL will handle the logistics of having a team — the Raiders — in Las Vegas.
Types of Las Vegas Sports Betting Point Spread: The point spread represents the margin of points in which the favored team must win by to cover the spread. You’re wagering on a team winning or losing by a certain number of points set by the sports book.
The Las Vegas Raiders are happening
The news today was widely expected: The NFL owners voted to allow the Oakland Raiders to move the franchise to Las Vegas. That tally was nowhere near close; owners voted 31-1 to approve the move.
That has wide repercussions for the league itself, obviously. But it’s also seen as a milestone for sports betting in the US. The NFL — the most opposed of the major US professional sports leagues in recent years to sports betting — has put a team in Las Vegas. That would have been unthinkable as recently as a few years ago.
No one asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about sports betting and its implications at a press conference announcing the owners’ vote. But we still have a pretty good idea of what the move means for the NFL’s sports betting stance.
Yes, it’s a sports betting milestone, but…
Here’s what we do know: The move does not mean the NFL, all of a sudden, is a proponent of legal sports betting. More from SI.com’s Monday Morning Quarterback this morning:
“[The NFL] is not changing our position as it relates to legalized sports gambling,” Goodell said. “We still don’t think it is a positive thing. We want to make sure that the integrity of our game is the primary concern and we do everything possible to protect that. And that people are watching it for the outcome, and they know that it is not being influenced by any outside influences. We are very determined to continue that, and we will; that’s a first priority for us.
That opinion flies in the face of several other US leagues saying regulated and legal sports betting is probably better for game integrity, led by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Not everyone agrees with Goodell, or at least his public stance
Some NFL owners, however, make that stance sound outdated. It is not representative of what all of them think, as a few of them discussed with SI. At least some of them realize that sports betting is already going on in a widespread fashion via illegal, offshore sportsbooks. They realize the NFL would be best served no longer keeping its head in the sand on this issue.
The league, of course, remains a plaintiff in the New Jersey sports betting case. That state is attempting to legalize single-game wagering. There are efforts underway to alter or repeal PASPA. That is the federal law that bans sports betting in most of the US. But it’s not clear how much traction that will have without the NFL on board.
The biggest sign of what the NFL thinks about sports betting will occur if it requests Nevada sportsbooks take all Raiders games off the boards, eventually. That may be awhile — the Raiders are currently slated to play in Oakland for two more seasons, and possibly three. (We also know the NFL will have to change its internal rules on travel to Las Vegas.)
Here’s what we know on that front:
Asked NFL EVP Eric Grubman if there's a provision that Raiders have to come off the board — 'It's not an issue we've taken up as a league.'
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 27, 2017
Even if bettors can’t wager on Raiders games, they will be able to bet on NFL games inside an NFL stadium via a variety of casinos that offer mobile sports betting.
If the NFL does ask for a ban on Raiders betting, the move to Vegas is still meaningful. But it would represent more of a moral victory in the path toward legalizing sports betting than a material one.
The AGA and sports betting
The American Gaming Association applauded the move in a statement. But the AGA did not immediately link it to the presence of legal Nevada sports betting. That has been one of the AGA’s signature issues recently.
“We congratulate the Raiders and the National Football League on today’s historic decision to place a team in Las Vegas. The second announcement of a major sports franchise to locate a team in Las Vegas in just the last 12 months demonstrates how far gaming has come, from a niche industry to a $240 billion economic engine that supports 1.7 million jobs in 40 states.
The gaming industry currently partners with professional teams around the country and we look forward to soon doing the same in Nevada. We applaud the many leaders in Las Vegas who have worked tirelessly to make the city the world’s premier tourist, convention and entertainment destination — and a market worthy of an NFL team.”
Although there was this later from the AGA’s CEO, Geoff Freeman:
Casinos currently partner w professional teams around the country. We look forward to soon doing the same in Nevada #Raiders2Vegas
— Bill Miller (@BillMillerAGA) March 27, 2017
Still, the AGA and proponents will latch onto the move as good for sports betting. Which it certainly is.
What’s next for the NFL and sports betting?
Betting On Sports Games
Despite not being asked about it today, Goodell will continue to come up against questions that point out that the NFL has a team in Vegas. That team exists in a place with sports betting, which the NFL doesn’t like.
Simply the fact that the Las Vegas Raiders will be a part of the national discussion about sports betting is a welcome development. It should help push the issue forward. It has the potential to alter the trajectory for sports betting in the US.
Are we closer to widespread legal US sports betting than we were yesterday? Definitely. But the NFL’s arrival in Vegas does not automatically mean legalization going to happen in the near future.
Betting on sports in a casino sportsbook isn’t the same as betting with an illegal bookie or online sportsbook. Placing a wager with a ticket writer inside of a casino can be intimidating for new sports bettors. The big board with betting options may be confusing for someone who hasn’t seen anything like it before. Some gamblers avoid the sportsbook simply because of the pressure from other people. In addition, wagering isn’t the same for all sports and, depending on the sportsbook operator, the Las Vegas odds are different in many casinos.
The Best Sports Betting Apps In Nevada
Individual games have can have point spreads, moneylines, totals, various propositions, and even more wagering options during the games themselves. There are futures bets for championships and individual events. Sportsbook operators in Nevada are offering more opportunities to wager in a sportsbook every day which can add to the confusion. There’s a lot of information to take in when contemplating a sports bet.
Mobile sports wagering might actually be an easier way to wager on sports for gamblers who have bet with the best online sportsbooks before visiting a land-based casino. We’ll discuss how to bet in person at a Nevada sportsbook and how to bet online using a mobile device (phone or tablet). All bettors should know the basics before placing a wager in a Nevada sportsbook.
Choose the sport and pick a wager
Not all sports bets are the same. Most wagers for football and basketball are made using a point spread. Baseball and hockey use a moneyline and also offer run or puck lines, respectively. Other events might offer straight odds for a winning wager. Here are the basic ways to wager on games, matches and events for each major sport.
- Football: Point spread
- Basketball: Point spread
- Baseball: Moneyline
- Hockey: Moneyline
- Soccer: Moneyline
- Fighting (MMA and Boxing): Moneyline
- Golf: Odds
- Auto Racing: Odds
- Tennis: Moneyline
- Olympics: Odds
Point totals and alternatives are available for most moneyline and point spread sports. These aren’t the only ways to wager on each sport but this is the starting point for most sports bettors.
Choose the type of wager
Once a bettor chooses the sport they want to wager on, they will need to choose how they want to bet. In addition to the basic wager types, a variety of wagering options could be available for each event.
- Point spread – Choosing the favorite to win by more points than the point spread or underdog to lose by fewer points than the point spread.
- Moneyline – Simply pick the winner of a game or event.
- Totals – Choosing that the total points scored will be over or under for the defined period or game.
- Propositions – A wager made that something will or won’t happen during a game or event. This could be individual players or teams.
- Futures – This is a wager on an event to happen in the future. The occasion can be in the near future or at the end of a season.
Placing the wager
It’s time to place the wager once the bettor knows which event they want to bet. Ticket writers in a Las Vegas sportsbook can usually understand any terminology they’re given. However, it makes their life easier when a bettor uses the basic information for the bet(s) they’d like to place.
- The rotation number that coincides with the team or athlete for the wager. This is the 3 or 4 digit number to the left of each event.
- Amount of the wager.
- Listen when the bet is read back to make sure it’s correct.
- Double check the printed ticket to make sure that’s correct.
For example, “I’d like #123 (team name) for $100.” The ticket writer will read back the wager to make sure they have the information correct. Once approved they’ll print the ticket and the bettor will exchange money for the ticket. Always double check the ticket – even if there’s a line – to make sure the wager is exactly what was asked for.
Getting paid for a wager
Point Spreads – Most point spread wagers pay -110. This means that for every $110 wagered, the bettor will be paid $100. Some games will move to -120 before the point spread changes. This requires a $120 wager to win $100.
Moneyline – The favorite for this game or match will be noted by the minus (-200) sign and the underdog by a plus (+200) sign. For example, the Yankees are -200 favorites against the Red Sox who are +190. In this example, the bettor will wager $200 on the Yankees to win $100. Likewise, the bettor may wager $100 on the underdog Red Sox to win $190.
Futures – These will be noted by a moneyline (+600) or straight odds (6-1). These numbers pay the same thing but may be confusing to someone new to a casino sportsbook.
When a bettor is paid they receive the amount of the winning bet plus the original wager. Using the example above, the bettor will receive $300 if they placed winning $200 bet on Yankees beat the Red Sox. The ticket pays $100 and the bettor receives the original bet amount of $200 back.
Where to bet in Nevada
All sportsbooks in Nevada are created differently. The space devoted to a sportsbook in Nevada casinos depends on the size and customers of the individual property. By nature, one would think that a larger casino would have a large sportsbook. That’s not always the case as sports betting is less of a focus for certain casinos in Nevada.
Finding a sportsbook that meets personal preferences is important when choosing where to bet. Some gamblers prefer quick access to restaurants while others prefer the best viewing screens. Some gamblers want to watch the games on the best TV screens while others just want a place to bet and grab a drink. Reading different sportsbook reviews will help casino guests find the most comfortable viewing experience.
Serious sports bettors always look for the best Las Vegas odds when choosing a sportsbook. Not all Las Vegas sportsbooks offer the same betting odds. Some sportsbook operators are known for having the best Las Vegas odds while others are noted for having odds that are less favorable.
There was a day when shopping for the best Las Vegas odds was easy. The city was small and it was easy to walk from casino to casino to find the best odds. That changed as casinos grew and different sportsbook operators became more spread out around Las Vegas. The internet has made finding the best Las Vegas odds easy once again. Plenty of websites offer live odds and bettors can now wager on sports anywhere in Nevada with a mobile sports wagering app.
Mobile sports wagering
Mobile sports wagering has taken Nevada by storm ever since being introduced. Sports bettors can wager on any games available from a sportsbook operator anywhere in the state. The convenience of betting on sports from anywhere means that someone on vacation can place a bet on a game from a pool or nightclub. Meanwhile, Nevada residents can place wagers from their house.
Sports bettors no longer have to stand in line waiting to place a bet. Mobile sports wagering is so popular that some sportsbook operators see more wagers placed via mobile sports wagering app than in the land-based casinos.
Wagering on sports with a mobile app is intuitive and may be less intimidating for a new sports bettor since bets are not made with other people around. Even though different sportsbooks may have their own software placing a wager with apps is easy and similar to the best online sportsbooks.
Sports wagering apps in Nevada must be set up at a land-based casino initially. Some sportsbook operators use software that will allow users to fund and withdraw from an account without returning to the sportsbook. The Las Vegas odds are the same on the app as they are in the physical casino.
Sports Betting In Vegas Casino
Why you should bet on sports in Nevada
Sport Betting In Vegas
It’s possible to wager illegally with a bookie and online with an offshore sportsbook but nothing is better or safer than betting on sports in Nevada. Casinos and sportsbook operators in Nevada are billion dollar companies in a highly regulated industry. The Nevada Gaming Control Board might have the most strict gaming regulations in the country. Unlike an illegal bookie or sketchy offshore sportsbook the money used to place wagers in Nevada should be considered safe.